Arch supporting insole



Dec. 27, 1960 w. M. scHoLL 2,965,984

ARCH SUPPORTING INSOLE I Filed June 1o, 1959 HUHIWILL United States Patent O 2,965,984 ARCH SUPPORTING INSOLE William M. Scholl, 211-213 W. Schiller St., Chicago, Ill. Filed June 10, 1959, Ser. No. 819,503 2 Claims. (Cl. 3671) This invention relates to improvements in an arch supporting insole, and more particularly to a cushion type insole for disposition in an article of footwear beneath the plantar surface of the human foot, the structure being highly desirable for cushioning not only the bearing points of the foot, but also for giving additional support to the longitudinal and metatarsal arches, although the device may have other uses and purposes as will be apparent to one skilled inthe art.

The instant invention is an improvement on the structure disclosed, described, and claimed in my copending application entitled Shock Absorbing Insole and Arch Cushion, led August 2l, 1957, Serial No. 679,330, now Patent No. 2,917,849, dated December 22, 1959. Naturally the instant invention possesses all of the advantages of the structure set forth in the aforesaid copending application, but also has additional advantages as will be apparent herein.

While the device of the aforesaid copending application not only provides shock absorption and a cushioning effect for the entire foot, but also provides added cushioning in the region of the longitudinal and metatarsal arches, there are times, particularly in the case of Weak or fallen longitudinal or metatarsal arches where a support of y stiffer or more rigid character is indicated. At the same time, it may be desirable to have a shock absorbing and cushioning elfect throughout the entire foot, and even in the region Where the stier or more rigid support is utilized; also it is sometimes diflcult to obtain a cushion support for the plantar surface of the foot with the desired lifting qualities for particular alictions, and equally as often it is at least desirable, if not necessary to permit a graduation of the height and possibly the stiffness or rigidity of a lift or supporting element during alleviation of the particular affliction.

Accordingly, with the foregoing in mind, it is an important object of the instant invention to provide a cushioning insole providing additional support for one or both arches of the foot and wherein the particular arch -supporting means is in the form of a lift or insert readily incorporated in a pocket in the device.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of a shock absorbing and arch supporting insole embodying added lifts for one or both arches of the foot, and so constructed that the lifts may be changed whenever desired and in accordance with the response to treatment of any particular aliction.

Also a feature of this invention is the provision of a shock absorbing and arch supporting insole embodying a layer of cushioning material with means forming a pocket or pockets in the structure beneath that layer of cushioning material for the reception of stiler supporting inserts, removable and interchangeable when desired.

IIt is also a feature of this invention to provide a shock absorbing and arch supporting insole embodying a sheet of t,

ICC

Figure l is a top plan view of an arch supporting insole embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the structure of Figure l;

Figure 3 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially as indicated by the line III-III of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows, and showing the central portion of the insole somewhat compressed as it would be with weight thereupon; and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IV-IV of Figure l, also showing the insole compressed as though it had weight thereupon.

As shown on the drawings:

While the illustrated embodiment of the instant invention is shown in the form of an insole which extends from the rear of the heel of the user Ito a point forward of the metatarsal arch so that portions of the toes may extend beyond the device, it will of course be understood Ithat the device may be made of substantially any desirable length. The illustrated embodiment of the instant invention is a foot cushioning and arch supporting structure for use beneath the left foot of the user, and it will, of course, be understood that an allochiral structure would be utilized for the right foot.

With reference now to the drawings, it will be seen that the illustrated embodiment of the instant invention includes a cover sheet 1 which may satisfactorily be in the form of an unsupported plastic film of the type capable of being electronically heat sealed, vinyl films among others being satisfactory for this purpose. The cover sheet maybe provided with numerous apertures Z to provide for ventilation of the foot during use of the device. Beneath the cover 1 is a much thicker sheet 3 of plastic foam. Preferably this sheet is of a plastic material that may be electronically heat sealed, and alsoV preferably it has intercommunicating cells so as to provide adequate ventilation and provide an added cushioning effect due to the pumping action caused by the application and release of body pressure upon the device during walking.

Various thermoplastics are suitable for the sheets 1 and 3. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, I may mentoin that satisfactory foams include vinyl foams, polyvinyl chloride foams, polyester and polyurethane or isocyanate foams. These foams are extremely light in Weight, highly resilient, highly flexible, have restorative powers or properties, and are immune to washing compounds, foot acids, fungi, etc. The shock absorbing qualities of such foams are extremely high.

[In the preferred form of construction, .there is a lateral extension on each of the sheets 1 and 3 opposite the inner longitudinal arch of the foot, these extensionsv forming a composite extension generally indicated by numeral 4 on the device.

Preferably, the sheets 1 and 3 are secured together by a fine line heat seal seam 5 which also defines the bounding edge of the device and extends around the aforesaid extension 4. Along the inner edge of the extension the sheets 1 and 3 are preferably joined to each other by a somewhat wider heat seal seam 6 which, as illustrated in Fig. 1, may be made in simulation of stitching for decorative purposes, if so desired. This particular seam 6 functions as a hinge seam so that the composite extension 4 may readily turn upwardly along the inside of a shoe upper when the device is in use, and thereby provide cushioning support for the higher part of the longitudinal arch of the foot.

A partial bottom sheet 7 is provided which underlies the foam sheet 3. This bottom sheet may satisfactorily be of the same material as the cover sheet 1. The partial bottom sheet,.generally indicated by numeral 7, may be in the form of a single piece having a relatively large cut-out or aperture 8 therein to leave a goodly quantity of the under face of the foam sheet exposed, or this partial sheet may be in the form of several individual segments, as may be best desired for economy in production. In the illustrated instance, the partial sheet 7 includes an arcuate portion 9 `which underlies the longi-4 tudinal arch of the foot, a forward portion 10 which underlies the metatarsal arch of the foot, and a relatively narrow marginal portion 11 which acts as a protector against abrasion of the foam sheet adjacent the aforesaid heat seal seam 5 defining the bounding edge of the device. As seen best in Figures 2 and 3, the underlying sheet portion 9 is secured to both the foam sheet and cover sheet by way of an arcuate heat seal seam 12, around Ithe inside edge of the sheet portion 9, but the outside edge of this sheet is not secured to the foam sheet but is left free to provide a slot 13 which provides an entrance to the pocket between the sheet portion 9 and the under face of the foam sheet 3. Within that pocket a cuneiform insert may be disposed. This insert 14 gives a more rigid and firmer support to the longitudinal arch of the foot than does the material of the cushioning foam sheet 3, and it is preferably made of stiffer or denser material. Any suitable supporting material such as rubber, synthetic rubber, felt, leather, or even metal might be utilized for this purpose. It will be noted that when the insert or lift 14 is in the pocket, it is covered by the foam sheet 3 so that a soft contact is provided forthe bottom of the foot, and the foot does not become aggravated by virtue of continuous pressure directly upon a relatively hard object.

Obviouslythe cuneiforrn lift 14 may be as thick or as stiff or rigid as may be deemed necessary to fit a particular arch condition. VEqually as obviously, this insert may be removed 4atvvill, cleansed. and replaced,` or an insert of slightly different size or density substituted for it in the event the particular arch condition is responding to treatment and does not need as high a lift or as dense a lift as was first used.

The insert or lift 14 is freely disposed in the pocket through the entrance 13. In order to maintain this lift in proper position during use of the appliance, a free flap 15 is provided on the under side of the appliance, this Vflap being held by the bounding edge heatseal seam 5. The ap may satisfactorily be made ofthe same material as the cover sheet 1 or the partial bottom sheets 7. The inner portion of the ap is free, and may be tucked in the slot-like entrance 13 to the pocket beneath the insert 14, as clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. Thus, the lift itself in case it projected through the entrance to the pocket is prevented from contact with the built in insole of the shoe, but if the flap is properly tucked in, the lift is held against movement. Even though someone may be careless and permit the ap to underlie the portion 9 of the partial bottom sheet without being tucked in, the lift is fairly secure and protected against contact with the shoe insole.

At the forward end of the device an ovate heat seal seam 16 which in general outlines a metatarsal arch lifting formation unites the portion 10 of the partial bottom sheet with the foam sheet 3 and cover sheet 1. l The par-tial bottom sheet is unattached to the foam sheet inside the seam 16 and thus forms a pocket with the foam sheet, entrance to which is provided through a slit or slot 17 in the partial bottom sheet inside the confines of the seam 16 as best seen in Fig. 2. The metatarsal supporting insert 18 (Fig. 4) may be disposed in this pocket through the slit 17, and again this lift may be of any suitable supporting material as is the case with the lift 14 previously described and may be removed, replaced,

the metatarsal arch of the foot and in the rather conf fined pocket defined by the seam 16, no tuck-n flap is built in insole of the shoe, and thel upwardly turned or another lift of different size or density substituted, p

extension 15 helps maintain the device in position by contact with the inner side of the shoe upper.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that I have provided a shock absorbing and arch supporting cushioning insole possessing all of the advantages over previously known structures embodied in the structure of my aforesaid copending application, with the additional advantages of providing selective heights and densities of lifts or inserts at desired areas in keeping with particular conditions of a particular foot. Obviously the structure is useful as a shock absorbing and cushioning insole with the lifts removed. Further, the device is launderable whenever desired, simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and highly durable. p

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

'1. In an arch supporting insole, a top sheet of plastic film, a thicker sheet of plastic foam beneath said top sheet, a partial bottom sheet of plastic film beneath said foam sheet, a heat seal seam joining all said sheets and defining the bounding edge of the insole, said par-- tial bottom sheet underlying said foam sheet at the margin thereof and beneath the longitudinal and metatarsal arches of the foot leaving the underface of said foam sheet otherwise exposed, said partial sheet having a slot therein along .the inside edge of the insole forming the longitudinal arch portion thereof and another slot adjacent the forward edge of the insole, arcuate heat seal seamsl joining all said sheets inwardly of said slots to form pockets between the foam and partial sheets beneath the longitudinal and metatarsal arches of the foot with entrances through said slots, arch supporting inserts freely disposable by selective insertion in said pockets, and a plastic film ap for the pocket beneath the longitudinal arch, said flap being joined to said sheets along one edge in the first said heat seal seam and tuckable into the longitudinal arch pocket and over -the insert to retain the insert in position.

Y 2. In an arch supporting insole, a cover sheet, a thicker sheet of cushioning material underlying said cover sheet and secured thereto at the bounding edge of the insole, an arcuate partial sheet beneath the longitudinal arch portion of said cushioning sheet with its inner edge secured to said cushioning sheet and its outer edge free to provide entrance to a pocket between the partial and cushioning sheets, a longitudinal arch lifting insert in said pocket, said cover and cushioning sheets having a lateral extension adjacent the entrance to said pocket, a hinge seam joining said cover and cushioning sheets at the inside of said extension whereby the extension may extend upwardly along the inside of a shoe upper, and a free iiap secured to the outer edge of said extension and being tuckable into said pocket to retain the insert in said longitudinal arch pocket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 545,006 Baird Aug. 20, 1895 1,270,003 Carling June 18, 1918 1,272,994 Phelps -a July 16, 1918 1,488,596 Gash Apr. l, 1924 2,487,691 Boos e 1 Nov. 8, 1949 2,495,045 Woodbury Jan. 17, 1950 2,585,692 Scholl Feb. 12, 1952 2,658,288 Scholl Nov. l0, 195-3 

